INIFD Vashi gives many opportunities to be creative, says Yashika Poojari

During Class 10, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to pursue designing as my career or not. So during Class 11, I played safe by opting for Commerce stream thinking that in case I want to pursue designing as my career in future I can easily switch. I secured 88.8% in Class 12 which was actually way more than expected by me and my parents. My dad also enrolled me in CPT exams. That was the time I realised that I need to look out for something else, maybe something that I considered before. I discussed the same with my parents and I told them that I can’t visualise myself as a Chartered Accountant in future and my parents were actually very supportive. My parents always had my back which always helped me in facing anything fearlessly. My mother was the one who actually gave me this idea but I wasn’t sure if I was creative enough to enter this field. This is the reason why I took diploma classes which made me realise that I actually enjoy designing which in turn gave me the courage to discuss the same with my parents about opting for Fashion Designing as my career preference.

My dream, as every other Fashion Designing student, was to get into NIFT Mumbai but getting into that campus was a huge task altogether. The student is required to take the entrance exam and secure a rank from 1 to 50. Also, NIFT entrance exam is conducted during January and I decided to opt for this course around February due to this I had to take a break for about a year, during this period, I continued with my financial year in BCom and joined coaching classes with Bhanwar Rathore Design Studio (BRDS). For a year I prepared for the exams. I cleared both the levels but  didn’t achieve the rank required to qualify for the Mumbai campus. It was very disappointing for me. I also gave exams for other colleges and was able to clear them. However, but the fee structure of these colleges was a problem for me. So I started researching for various fashion designing colleges in my vicinity with my mother. After extensive research, we came across INIFD Vashi - International Institute of Fashion Design Vashi. My mother liked INIFD’s study pattern, the college timings suited my requirements, everything related to fashion designing was covered in the syllabus which gave us more clarity and helped us in finalising INIFD Vashi for my studies. Maybe I was meant to be a student of INIFD Vashi after all.

The students engage themselves in fun assignments with teachers during college hours. The students are taught new things every day and are given assignments basis the teaching during the lecture. Students can also sit for extra lectures with their teachers if they are faced with any problem with their assignment. All the students are always encouraged to keep experimenting, let new ideas come in so that the creativity of each student can be analysed.

The classes that I actually like to attend are of Garment Construction. In this class,  we get the opportunity to make new clothes which we design that too for ourselves. We can keep experimenting with things whether or not particular stuff can actually be useful in the garment or not? Who would want to lose such opportunities to make new trendy outfits for themselves? Garment Construction lecture helps us understand which of our designs can be possible to make practically. This helps us to design the outfits in illustration lecture which is actually practically possible. Along with our curriculum, we also celebrate small functions such as Teachers Day or Children’s Day; we celebrate all the occasions which help us bond like a family. I can say I have grown a lot as a person since I entered into this college. Working with my classmates, doing project work together, submitting assignments have actually helped me in enhancing my qualities like punctuality, teamwork and so on.

Also, INIFD Vashi students are given a chance to participate in our annual college fashion show in which I won in category “Best Designer Garment [Female]” and that award was given to me by Rohit Verma (a well-known designer) while presenting me the award he appreciated my work and offered me work with him. Through my experience. I can say such opportunity cannot come anytime, anywhere and to anyone. I believe that all the students of INIFD Vashi have a bright future ahead with many opportunities.

My mother always wanted me to open my own boutique but before that, I have to work under a well-known designer and learn about their working style, the process of making of garment,  the complete process of approaching the clients, and also the procedure of building a strong network and so on. I also want to gain knowledge about the Retail sector, and the working style of brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Zara. After learning this, I will put my knowledge and skills to start my own business.

About the author

Yashika Poojari is in the second year of Fashion Designing from INIFD Vashi. She has completed her BCom, too. Her hobbies are dancing and working out.

 

 

 

 

 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha